Patients who are being considered for weight loss surgery in certain centres in the UK can now be offered sleeve gastrectomy or gastric band or gastric bypass. The ‘By-Band’ study has received additional funding from the National Institute of Health Research to offer patients one of three excellent operations. The increasingly popular ‘sleeve forming gastrectomy’ operation is being recognised as a primary alternative to the gastric band or bypass. As with all these operations it has its advantages and disadvantages but is an effective option for patients that have a significant problem with morbid obesity.